Thursday Afternoon at TRH

I made it home relatively on schedule. Snow on the ground and more coming here. Lots different than the past 3 weeks. Home until Sunday, then off to Akron for two days. After I come back from that, I'm finished with seminars for the year.

At Heathrow Airport

It's 7am and I'm passing thru London.

Larry Hubbard

leavin

I'm leaving at 2am Thursday, very late Wednesday night, and should be at Dulles around noon Thursday. My overcoat is packed at the top of my luggage!

Tuesday Afternoon at the Four Seasons

Finished classes today. 22 days is a lot of teaching over a six week period. I'll have several meetings tomorrow, then get on an airplane just after midnight. Then to London, then to TRH.

Friday Night before the Seminar Starts

Monday starts tomorrow here - on Saturday. The weekend is over. I teach Sat-Tues, have have meetings Wednesday, then get on a plane around midnight Wednesday night. It will be nice to be home.

I visited the Saudi diamond dealer tonight. He's fixing two, and making five more for TRH. Also bought two more cow bells -maybe this year I'll give a present to the Cumberland Cats.

Weather is beautiful here - mid-60's to mid-80's - spent this morning out by the pool - me and 4 other guys. No girls allowed.

Wednesday Afternoon at the Dubai Airport

I'm finished in UAE, and on my way to Saudi Arabia now. I'll be in the Four Seasons Riyadh tonight.

Wednesday night at Starbucks

I'm back in Saudi, so Starbucks is my internet home again. Traffic from airport was terrible - an hour instead of 15 minutes. So, welcome back to the first night of the weekend here! And they have started letting kinds (gangs of them) into the shopping center attached to Four Seasons Hotel. Not an improvement!

Monday Afternoon at the Intercon

Tomorrow is last day of class here in Abu Dhabi, so it's two more nights here, then off to Riyadh on Wednesday. I'd better drink one more margarita before I go, 'cause I won't get any there!!

Friday at the Intercontinental Hotel

This place is a bit better than the Golden Tulip - and the price is almost the same!! Big pool and health club and a private beach. I'll check those things out today. Also, I need to find the seminar room, also at this hotel, for class starting tomorrow. I'm here until Wednesday then drive to Dubai and a flight to Riyadh. I pickup black pearls on Saturday night.

Thursday's Wadi Trip

Thursday (for Thanksgiving I guess) I went with Cyclone Tours to Hatta, a town about 2 hours away that has one part in UAE and the other in Oman. I crossed over into Oman, so now have visited that country, I guess. It was a good trip, with the same driver that took me into the desert last year this time. He is from Iran and has been in Abu Dhabi for over 20 years.

There were some mountains that reminded me of Turkey, and some almost green water from a rain several days ago. The water was nice and refreshing! You can also see the new pants I bought, they are not shorts, but dont reach the ground either. Sure cooler than long pants!

And for Thanksgiving dinner I had some type of bread-like thing that the driver had bought. I think fried turkey would have been better.

Wednesday Afternoon, Last Day at the Golden Tulip

Bought a BIG suitcase last night, so the wine glasses (that it seems like I bought ages ago) can go into it for the rest of the trip. I also now have a SIM card that works in UAE. My number to here from the US is 00 971 50 2367919 for either voice or text messages. I think. There's been a bit of discussion as to the exact format of the number to dial.

Going out tonight in search of black pearls for everyday wear. Lots more pearls here than there were in Bahrain. Maybe this is really the place for pearls. I've also decided you'd actually like a trip here (for a few days) as well as to Dubai. It would take you that long just to see the jewelry shops right around the hotel I'm in -- and there are hundreds more in other parts of the city.

Tomorrow I say goodby to the Golden Tulip and move to the Intercontinental -- after first going on a day of Wadi Bashing!! (I think that means driving in dried up river beds). That will be my Thanksgiving, I guess.

Monday Afternoon at the Golden Tulip

Not much happening here but work and sleep. No purchases, not tours booked. Guess I'll have to get busy. Class is over tomorrow and on Thursday I check out of the Tulip and into the Interncontiental Hotel.

Saturday, Just Another Work Day in Abu Dhabi

I'm back on the Saturday - Wednesday work week now. First day of class today - 8am to 2:30pm without lunch. Actually not a bad way to run a seminar. I've worked a deal with the seminar hotel so that I can use their pool and exercise room. So, after class I spent until about 6pm there, then got dinner at Chili's (with margarita) then back to the sleeping hotel. I think this way I can minimize my time at the Golden Tulip to just sleeping here! I'm planning on three more days of the same schedule, and even have a locker in the dressing room there so I can leave my "stuff".

I'm thinking about a trip to the desert for an overnight stay Wed or Thursday. Or maybe to Al Ain, which is near Oman. I can cross the border easily there and see that country. I'm told there is a very nice hotel high on a mountain there, and that tour companies run trips to there. We'll see.

Temperature in low 80's during the day here and 70's at night, so it is actually very nice weather.

Friday Afternoon at the Golden Tulip

I made it to Abu Dhabi just fine. Hotel is not the Hyatt, but is OK. Has a kitchen, of sorts, so maybe I'll cook. It's about a 15 minute walk to the seminar hotel, the Millinieum, so that's not too bad either. No gym here, so I'll have to see if I can work a deal to use the nice gym at the seminar hotel. Now I have to think about what to do Wed-Friday -- maybe an overnight trip into the desert. I can sleep with the camels this time, not just ride them!!

Thursday Night at the City Centre Mall

So this is where everybody goes on Thursday nights! The only reason everyone in Dubai isnt here is that their Rovers and BMW's wont all fit in the parking lots. I visited the movie theatre and bought a jumbo bag of popcorn on my way out.

Today was a hotel day. Worked out, then worked then went to the mall in the evening. Tomorrow I have car at 1pm to take me to Abu Dhabi. Then we'll see what the Golden Tulip Hotel is like. Class starts on Saturday there and runs from 8am to 2:30pm each day.

Wednesday After the Dives

Dubai is #1 in lots of things - construction, 7 star hotels, tallest building and biggest shopping mall - but it isn't #1 in Scuba Diving. I went to the "good" places, having declined yesterday to go nearby Dubai itself to the "cement mixer" site. We spent a total of about 5 hours driving, and dove two sites. Both would be about what I normally see in the quarries around TRH. Viz about 15 feet and water about 80 degrees - maybe these had more fish life. Wore a 3 mil suit, and still got cold. Everyone on the boat was commenting how good the dives were - so either I was on completely different sites than they were, or my expectations were higher. Anyway, I'm glad it did it, because now I know! Tomorrow I'll try golf or the Spa, or maybe work a bit at the hotel.

Friday I go to Abu Dhabi. I had a very hard time finding a hotel room, the client didn't make a reservation for me when they booked the seminar. I'll be in the Golden Tulip - and don't yet know how far that is to the hotel the seminar is in.

Tuesday on the Big Bus

Wow, today was lots of work. Eleven hours of touring on the Big Bus from one end of Dubai to the other, and back. There's even more construction than last year when I was here. I took lots of pictures, some of which were of the same stuff as I took pictures of last year, but now it's in a more finished state, and has more construction both.

This camel was on the beach-side of the Sheraton Beach hotel, and you can see the Burj Al Arab in the background. The other pic is the pool at the Park Hyatt - maybe I'll have to go out there sometime, but may choose Scbua and Golf instead the next two days.

I did run into one jewelry store today with stuff from some guy named Baraka. I think he's Italian.

Monday Afternoon At the Dubai Park Hyatt

I made it through another very early morning flight, and am now in Dubai at the Park Hyatt. It's very nice. The balcony and bathroom views are both impressive! Quite a change after a room for a week in Astana where they whole room was the size of this Hyatt's bathroom and noone spoke english. I am also in 28 degree temperature both yesterday and today, but yesterday it was in F and today in C. That a swing of about 60 degrees F warmer. I may need short pants before I leave on Friday to go to Abu Dhabi!

I'm near to the airport and to the City Centre mall, where I was last time I was here a year ago. And the Big Bus Tour Company stops right outside the mall - I may have to take an open top bus tour and see if the city has changed.

Lots of security around, checking taxi and car trunks, etc. as they enter. I think that's good.

I'm now +8 or +9 hours from TRH time - I'll figure it out for sure sometime.

Sunday on the Cable Car

Took a cable car ride today, to a park that overlooks the city. Well, I think it overlooks the city but it was mostly too foggy to tell. The cable car itself was a bit mature - that is OLD - but I figured if the guys running the operation would ride in the car then I could also. All went fine, but going over the towers was a bit like a roller coaster ride. My guess is they will take the cable car out of operation when it finally only makes it part-way through its last trip.

We also traveled over lots of residential areas - and I've changed my mind about this being a tourist spot. I'll compare it to Dubai tomorrow!

Sunday, Last Day In Kazakhstan

Yesterday I rented a driver and went around the city and up into the mountains. Got to see snow in the ski mountains and in their skating stadium. Hotel said the opera house was a good place to see, so last night I went to an opera. Kazakhstan actors, in an egyptian play, singing in latin - program was in Russian. I think it was good - but I dont even know the english name for it!

They also tell me everything is 2x more expensive here - clothing, electronics, etc. So, I'll go out shopping today, but dont plan any major purchases here. I do already have two picture books, a stuffed camel, a water bag and a russian box from the class last week, so I think that will be the extent of shopping.

Flight tomorrow to Dubai is at 7am, so I am reserved on the hotel bus at 4:40am. So, another early morning flight is coming up. Maybe from Dubai I'll ship my overcoat and the Slovak wine glasses back to TRH.

Saturday Morning in Almaty

I finished class Friday around noon, then went on a tour with the audit director and the woman who interpreted during the seminar. After hitting four tourist sites, I picked up my luggage from the hotel and headed to the airport. Got to Almaty around 10:30pm Friday.

I'm at the Hyatt Regency, and they have quite a bit of security going on. Guards, checking cars, etc. The hotel certainly beats the hotel in Astana, and I think the city is a bit larger and more English-speaking visitor friendly. We'll see though. The picture is from my balcony, and I'm told one of those radio towers is the tallest in the world.

I'm here until early Monday morning, then off to Dubai. Maybe I'll ship my overcoat, wine glasses and several other things back to TRH once I get to Dubai.

Friday Morning - Last day in Astana

I'm packing the bags again. Class is finished at noon today, and I fly from Astana to Almaty tonight. Get to the Hyatt Regency around 10pm. Don't have anything planned for Sat and Sunday there - but everyone here says Almaty is the place to go! Then, Monday morning I fly to Dubai, and I can pack away my overcoat for the rest of the trip.

I used Skype for a conference call, over the internet, last night. It lasted 30 minutes, the connection was just fine, and it costs me about .5 Euro - less than a dollar. Pretty amazing. But, it does depend on having a good, fast internet connection.

Wednesday Night at the Comfort Hotel

It snowed most of the day today. The class said weather would get better in April. This is a picture from the office building I am working in, yesterday without the snow. Everything in the picture was built within last 2 years.

The hotel provides a buffet breakfast with the room. So far every morning every single thing has been the same - boiled eggs, french toast, sausage, and cheeses,cereal, toast, olives and tomatoes. And all in the same place. Today they switched the coffee and the tea to different sides of the table, and I almost got the wrong thing because I'm already trained. But, my table was empty - not taken by any of the other three guests that seem to be here.

Tuesday Night at the Comfort Hotel

I got to see the city, tonight, with the IA Director. I think this place may be just as impressive as Dubai, considering that Dubai had big head start. There is more construction going on than anyone can imagine, and the government has relocated 500,000 workers from Almaty to Astana over the past 5 years when they made Astana the new capital.

Tonight, I had horse meat, camel milk and horse milk. Guess what - the horse meat did not taste like chicken! You would not recognize it as being different than roast beef. The fresh milk - that was another story. I didn't drink it all because I was afraid my American stomach might revolt during class tomorrow!

Monday in Astana - and its Snowing

Well, I'm in my first snow of the season. Not much of a snow, but then again it was horizontal while it was coming down, so maybe it never even hit the ground.

I found another great headquarters building at KMG. As nice as any big company anywhere I've seen. It's in the "new" city - where they are building blocks and blocks of brand-new buildings. Certainly rivals the HQ's I saw in Saudi Arabia and UAE. Those countries that have lots of oil and gas seem to have something going on right now.

Got to the office at 8:30, but they would not let us in -- too early! -- and I was even with the HR director. Several cell phone calls later someone OK'd us to get in. By then, we must have had 20 security guards watching us. I just wonder who they had to call to OK an HR director to get in the building.

I'm thinking of venturing out in the dark tomorrow - daylight is about 8am to around 5pm and seminar ends around 6pm, so I'm not sure how I'm going to do it. Maybe I'll wait until Friday afternoon when I'm out at noon and don't fly to Almaty until 8pm and setup a tour of some type.

Sunday in Astana

I arrived in Astana as scheduled, late Saturday or early Sunday, whichever way you look at it. Not only did the client's driver meet me at 2am, but also the HR manager and her brother were there. So, three people met my plane at 2am - that sounds like going beyond the call of duty!

Cold and wet here - mid 20's and misting when I arrived. They say it may snow later this week.

Lots of building going on - there must be 12 new buildings under construction that I can see from my hotel. I didn't venture out on Sunday, but will try and get more than a block from the hotel tomorrow.

I'm +11 hours from TRH in time. So, it's almost always tomorrow here.

Saturday in Business Class

I can get used to this - 16 seats and 2 passengers. They bring me as much Turkish wine as I want (Turkish Airlines flight). But, several passengers have on shearling coats, and I have a Tumi windbreaker. Pilot just said Astana temperature is -4C - guess I'll dig for my overcoat whenever I get there. But I can't send this email until then anyway, so maybe I'll delete it!

Regardless of what the timestamp on this message is, it's 6pm IST time as I write it on the plane.

Later note, and I added this comment at noon Sunday, from my Comfort Hotel in Astana. I made it!!

Saturday Afternoon in Istanbul Airport

I think I've been here before. I did find the airport hotel this time - though I didn't need it. The Turkish Air lounge is better than the BA lounge here, I've decided. Much bigger! I have about three hours here, then its a five hour flight with five hours of time difference to Astana. So, I'm still hoping to be there sometime very early Sunday morning.

Saturday Morning at the Vienna Airport

First leg of this day's trip complete. I can report that Vienna Airport looks like any other big-city airport in the world. I guess I did not need to fly here to find that out.

I hoped to Fedex a box of wine glasses I bought in Kosice back to TRH, but no such luck. They will have to follow me for a while. Fedex would likely cost me more than I paid for the six crystal Slovakia wine glasses anyway.

Last Night in Kosice

Friday night, and I'm all packed and ready to go. Taxi at 4am, airplane at 5:15, and in Vienna in time for breakfast at 6:30. At least that's the plan. After 3 hours its onto Istanbul, layover for another 3 hours, then on to Astana, Kazakhstan. I think I arrive there about 2am Sunday morning if all goes well. It should be a really fun way to spend a Saturday.

Its not all that bad on getting in late, as I think it's about 5 hours later there anyway, so its a 5 hour flight and 5 hour time change between Istanbul and Astana........ I think .... I think I'll really just figure it out on the way.

I've had free, high-speed internet access in my hotel room here in Kosice; that's been nice. But I have no idea what type access I'll find in Kazakhstan.

Thursday evening at the Bristol

Day 4 of this session is complete - everyone is worn out! We are all going to dinner tonight, and I'm betting some will drink a bit.

I just found out next week's course in Kazakhstan will be simultaneously translated into Russian, and the materials are being translated. Sounds like the course I did in Korea in January - it makes for a long week. Maybe if I drink lots of vodka I can talk like a Russian!

Tuesday Night at the Bristol Hotel

Lunch is the big meal here, and by law companies must pay everyday for about 65% of every workers lunch tab, or provide similar meal facilities on-site. So, guess how big our lunches are at the seminar I am giving - VERY BIG! Makes the afternoons pretty long, in a small room. We can regulate the room's temperature by opening two large windows at the front of the room - when open, the people in front freeze, and those at the back are comfortable. When closed, it is comfortable in front and hot and stuffy in the back. At least it provides constant work for everyone to keep adjusting the windows.

I'll go to a crystal store Wednesday or Thursday - I understand that Slovak crystal is a really good thing to buy here.

And, I can finally almost pronounce the name of the city I'm in - Kosice is "Ko SHEETZ a" - I knew going to all the Sheetz gas stations back home would come in handy some day! But, how a guy from Texas is supposed to know to pronounce "Kosice" that way, I'll never know!

Halloween Night in Kosice

I'm in my hotel room, waiting for trick-or-treaters -- its dark already, wonder when they'll all be here???

Today was first day of class - 21 people in a small room. Most were also in same place last week for a week of training, so they are going on week 2. That's lots of training over two weeks!

Sunday afternoon I rode a taxi to the zoo, to an observation tower, and nearto the US Steel plant here. Weather is great, in mid-40's, and the fall colors are still out!

Sunday Morning in Kosice

Went to dinner at a steak restaurant last night, with a USS employee who will move here in January. He knows his way around the city, having been here several times before. Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday almost all stores are closed. I did find a Tesco store (like a small Walmart) open Sunday, so I bought the right converter for my electric plug on the PC. So, now my battery can charge. I didn't see anything else there that I needed.

About 250,000 live in Kosice, and US Steel is the only big company here. The steel plant was built many years ago, and bought by USS just a short time ago.

Saturday Evening at the Bristol Hotel

I made it to Kosice, Slovakia just fine, and am staying at the Bristol Hotel. I added their internet site and link, but cannot get the English version to work. I think there are going to be many things like that this week - where things dont work well in English. I am +6 hours from TRH time.

It's about 40 degrees and sunny here - it has a small, country village feel to it. I saw some stores as I walked around, but mostly things around the hotel looked closed.

I have internet access in my hotel room, so that much is easy. I think I'll go forage for food next

Saturday Morning in the Prague Airport

So far, so good. Made a tight connection in London, and now I'm in the Czech Airline lounge in the Prague airport. It may be a foreign country, but it looks like any other big airport to me! Another Czech airline flight in a hour to Kosice.

Departure Day

Leaving at 6pm today for Kosice, Slovakia, via London and Prague. And bags are packed for Kazakhstan, UAE and Saudi Arabia after that. Long trip!

Deborah and I went to see Cavalia last night - wow!! Whether you like horses or not, those guys were pretty impressive.

Home for a Couple of Weeks

I'm home now, other than a one-day trip to New York Friday Oct 21. Lots of embassy's to visit and visa's to get for the long trip after that:

Oct 28-Nov4 Kosice, Slovakia
Nov 5-Nov 11 Astana, Kazakhstan
Nov 12-Nov 14 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Nov 15-Nov 18 Dubai, UAE
Nov 19-Nov 30 Abu Dhabi, UAE
Dec 1-Dec 8 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

During the layovers, I get to spend time in the London, Istanbul, Prague and Vienna airports - lots of airline and hotel time coming up on that trip! And 4 new countries added to the places I've been.

Rover Weekend Results

It started raining Thursday night, and rained 6 inches by Saturday afternoon. So the Rover weekend was muddy!! In sticky, slick, red clay. And I did get stuck - as did almost everyone.



But getting stuck then "winched out" seemed to be what the weekend was all about. Everyone just drove in the mud until someone got stuck, then all the guys with the right equipment came by and spent the next 30 minutes pulling the poor, stuck Rover out of the mud. Then someone else got stuck, and they did it again. There were about 200 Rovers doing this. I'm still trying to figure out the logic to it all, but right now I think 4-wheeling is just a bunch of guys with expensive toys playing outside.

Rover Weekend - Oct 6-9

I'm taking the Land Rover and the Shelties to a three day road rally, where 300+ other Rovers will be driving up hills, thru mud, and over rocks. Other than sand at Assateague Island, the Rover has never been offroad, so this will be its first real chance to do what it is supposed to do. (I hope I don't get stuck!)

Sunday Morning at TRH

Home now, but leaving in a couple of hours for South Bend, via a 3 hour layover in Chicago. I'll be back very late Wednesday night. Hope there are no hurricanes or floods anywhere this trip - I'm beginning to think every time I travel something bad happens down on the LA coast.

Monday - Thursday - Denver

Wow is Denver ever pretty this time of year!!! But, the guys in class told me not to tell, or else everyone would know, so I won't tell anyone.

Saturday Night at Dances with Dogs

OK, so this is not travel related, but we all went to our sixth straight Dances with Dogs event for the Montgomery Humane Society.


Well, for Hydro it was actually only his fourth time to DWD, but that's because he was adopted late.

Saturday, Back at TRH

Back home now, for the weekend. Dances with Dogs tonight so Hydro and Quince have to get dressed up!!!

Off to Denver on Sunday for 4 days.

Wednesday Night at the Hampden Inn

In St Louis now leading a seminar through Friday. Hot but rainy here - sure hope some of the rain gets to TRH also - it's too dry there!

Next week is Denver, and the next South Bend -- and then it's OCTOBER!!! Didn't the year just start? A Target store had Haloween candy on the shelves, so the class will get a treat tomorrow.

Pets In Need Of Help - Katrina

These guys need help!

Monday Night at TRH

Everyone is home again, until Tuesday when Deborah leaves for a couple of days.

Sunday Night at TRH

Deborah and I made it home from PB on time. Puppies are still at Luciles, so I'll try and make it that way Monday. Then they and Deborah can overlap for one night before she goes away again on Tuesday morning.

Sunday 4pm in the PB Airport

Big brunch today, and now we are in Palm Beach airport waiting to go to TRH. We'll get Deborah's car from the BMW shop and should be home by 9pm.

Then we'll figure out how to retrieve the puppies from Lucile.

Thursday afternoon at the Breakers

All is fine in PB, much better than those in other places. One more day of class, then the weekend. We start home Sunday, after a Breakers brunch.

Tuesday night at the Breakers

Made it to Palm Beach fine. Monday had plenty of sun but Tuesday was rainy. Deborah is spaing while I teach.

To Cumberland, then to Palm Beach

The Shelties perform tomorrow at Caleigh's birthday party in Cumberland, then we'll drop them at Luciles for a week.

Sunday Deborah and I leave for a week at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. I'm working for five days, and she is spa'ing for the whole time. I have Saturday to play a little golf, I hope. We return to TRH Sunday Sept 4.

Hurricane Katrina hit well below Palm Beach, on it's first landfall, so we think the Breakers is OK from that. Hopefully Katrina won't cause too much more trouble as she crosses the Gulf and pops out somewhere else for her second landfall.

Friday Afternoon - Puppies Back Too

I picked up the Shelties from Lucile's today, so everyone is back at TRH now!

Thursday Afternoon - Home Again

Dammam to Amsterdam to The Rock House - got home around 3pm today.

Tuesday Night at Al Rashid Mall

Visited another mall tonight. Found a blue box place and remembered "anything in a blue box is OK as a gift".

Tuesday Afternoon on the Blog

I had to delete some comments from my Blog today - because it got spammed. I didn't want any of the stuff they were selling. But, maybe spam comments are better than no comments at all, which is what there are now.

Anyway, I've restricted comments to registered users of Blogger, which was the setting on prior trips, so that shouldn't be a problem or keep Cumberland or TRH from posting comments, you'll just need to logon to Blogger to do it. You've done that before --- about three trips ago!

Anybody there???

Monday - Coffee at the Office

Today I saw how they make coffee in the office. Someone brings coffee or tea on a tray twice a day - that's nice. I missed that today, so was just wondering around and found the coffee room

There is water in a big metal pot sitting on a stove, and they add a spoon of instant coffee to a paper cup and fill it up from the pot. I think it's Maxwell House, could be Foldgers- 'cause the jar is not marked, and I don't think Gevalia delivers instant coffee here. I didn't see where the water comes from or how it gets into the pot - but I have not been sick yet, so will keep drinking their coffee!!!

Sunday Evening at the Holiday Inn

I seem to be in a rut here = sleep, work, workout, work, sleep - with some eating in between. I don't know if that's good or not, but it seems to be the trend. Three more days, then a flight out at midnight Wednesday to TRH.

Here is the website of the client I am working on in Dammam - FMQ Company - and here is the consulting company in Riyadh that is sponsoring me here - HNC.

Dhahran Shopping Mall on a Friday Night

Let me tell you about a shopping nightmare. Imagine a hugh shopping mall - with a Super Walmart (called Geant here) as an anchor store. And it's the Friday after Thanksgiving or the heaviest shopping day before Christmas - except more crowded. And except that:

• Everyone has shopping carts - not just in stores, but in the mall itself - everywhere
• They have mini-shopping carts with tall flags on them for the kids - I think they are designed for racing.
• The kids can also rollerblade and skate inside the mall.
• There are bicycles with training wheels for the kids too.
• There is a skating rink - and on it all the kids wear helments and knee, elbow and wrist pads - but they don't have to wear those in rest of mall or inside the stores.

It was like thousands of Caleigh's in one small space!

I was there from 6:30pm to 8pm, and all the stores closed twice, for 15 minute prayer times. The Saudi men went to prayer, somewhere, but the women and kids stayed in the hallways and common areas of the mall talking on cellphones, drinking coffee and racing bikes and carts. You are not allowed to take pictures or else I'd have some good ones. Everyone's phone does have a camera on it though - but they can't use them indoors I guess.

I bought some water, some almonds and some bananas from the Geant store and some chicken from Popeyes. I got a SR 5 (about $2) coupon from Popeyes, so I may have to go back. But this time, if my hotel driver had not showed up and taken me away when he did, I might have been arrested for abusing some kid.

Friday Afternoon at the Holiday Inn

Still here at the Holiday Inn in Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

Had buffet breakfast this morning for first time - pretty standard omlets, hashbrowns and bacon - beef bacon, since nobody has pork here. Worked some then went to gym and pool - about 110 degrees outside, so even the pool water is hot!

Workweek starts tomorrow, Saturday - it's the weekend in the US, but not here. I think there is a golf tournament this weekend though, so maybe we'll get some television of it - the afternoon in the US would make the TV here sometime after midnight -- maybe I'll just wait for the coverage in "Arab News" www.arabnews.com the next day.

I'm working here thru Wednesday, and leaving around midnight Wednesday. Glad I wasn't flying back thru London Heathrow yesterday - I'd still be there!

I've decided there must be nobody reading these blogs anymore, since there are no comments to it. It's unlocked so anyone can leave a comment!

Thursday Morning at the FMQ Offices

It's the weekend!!! And I am in the client's office working!! But, so is everyone else -- seems like there is only one weekend day in Saudi and it is Friday.

I went to a BBQ at Saudi Aramco last night - kabobs, lambchops, chicken, and Budweiser N.A. beer. I thought the N.A. stood for North America, so it was an imported beer, but I was told differently.

I'll be going to the Dharan Mall around 5pm today to see what I can see. I'm not at the office tomorrow - I'll be at home in the HI instead!

Monday Night at the Holiday Inn

Well, they closed the US Embassies here for two days this week because of some type threat - so said the US government. But the Saudi government says nothing is going on. Who knows!!! I'll just work and stay in my HI.

I did go to a grocery store tonight and bought popcorn (popped!), peanuts, and dates (yes, dates). Ummmmm.

Friday Night at the Holiday Inn

Made it to Saudi around 9pm Friday night - another long trip! Got two more little house ornaments from KLM. I'm gonna have a real collection before long - that makes 4. Tomorrow is first workday of week, so I need to get used to the Saturday - Wednesday schedule again. I'm +7 hours from TRH time, and sending this via email to my blog so don't know what time it will show as posted -- but its 10:30 pm in Saudi as I send it.

Friday Morning in the KLM Lounge

I'm in Amsterdam airport on my way back to Saudi Arabia. I should be there Friday night, to be met at the airport someone from my "home" for next two weeks - the Holiday Inn!

Saturday - Everyone is back at TRH!

For a couple of days everyone - puppies and people - are back at The Rock House. Next trip is end of week -- back to Saudi Arabia for me.

Tuesday at Camelback Inn

Deborah and I made it to Arizona yesterday. I will be in meetings for 3 days, and Deborah will be at the Spa. (Well, I did bring my golf clubs).

Saturday Night, Back At TRH

Made it back from Grand Cayman. Lots of good pictures with the new camera. Now, one day here, then off to Phoenix for Tuesday - Friday.

Monday near Grand Cayman Island

First day of dives - new camera works well! Lots of waves, so I hope my Seabands also work well for the overnight crossing to Little Cayman tonight. Lots of big waves expected.

Larry Hubbard

Sunday afernoon - in Grand Cayman

We made it - at least four of us did. Rest of group is in Miami trying to get out. Weather is warm and breezy in GCM.

Larry Hubbard

Sunday Morning - The Adventure Begins

As best I can tell, the flight from Atlanta to Grand Caymans in a "go" - despite the map showing the islands still in Emily's path. I already know more about hurricanes that I wanted to, but may get to learn some more over the next day or so. I'm off to the airport in an hour - unless someone calls it off.

Saturday - Trying to Get to Grand Cayman

I'm supposed to be on a plane right now, heading to Grand Cayman island for a week of scuba diving. But, there's a storm called Emily that has it's eye on the Caymans, and the government won't let us fly in - as if we really want to fly into the eye of a hurricane.

Maybe we'll get to fly out tomorrow (Sunday), or maybe not!

Short Trip To Austin

Just took a one-day trip to Austin, Texas for a July 6 seminar. These short trips are easy, compared to the overseas travel!

Monday Afternoon, at TRH

Made it home as planned. Second trip to Saudi complete. More to follow!

Monday Morning at the Communications Center

I made it through Bahrain to Abu Dhabi and now I am in Amsterdam airport. Tulip bulbs are on the way to TRH! We'll see if the little sniffing Beagle dog in the airport luggage area finds them!

Last time we were in this airport the comms center had just opened it - now there's hundreds of people here. I also remember that time we didn't realize we still had to go through another passport control, and we had to jump the line to make our plane. I'll try not to do that again.

Sunday Morning at Starbucks

Finally found a Starbucks with internet access in Dammam. Before this everything was via 19 bps (slow) dial-up.

It's 2am TRH Time - that's 9 am here. I'll stay here a while then go to Bahrain around 5pm, then start home around 11 pm. Today will be along day!

And, by the way, I think there are lurkers out there reading this Blog. Glenn, you there??

Saturday Afternoon - Still at the Meridien

Well, I'm not going to make it out of the country tonight. Too much after-school vacation travel happening for me to catch a plane. Tomorrow I will fly out from Bahrain around midnight, laying over in Amsterdam for about 4 hours, then arriving IAD Monday afternnon on KLM #651 at 2:05 pm. I'll take a taxi to TRH and surprize the puppies by around 4pm if all goes OK.

Friday Night at the Meridien

Last day of the weekend here. I rented a driver and went on a 4 hour tour of the area today. I saw a hugh university, lots of empty beaches and closed stores since it is the weekend. There is a new building being built on almost every block here. A new exhibition center looks like it will be one mile square.

After the tour I spend the rest of the afternoon by the pool - 110 degrees actually doesn’t seem so hot when the wind is blowing 30 mph!

Thursday Night at the Meridien

Midway through another weekend - last one here for a while. I am wait-listed for a KLM flight that gets to IAD at 2pm Sunday afternoon - last day of the weekend in the US. This off-set weekend thing is confusing!

I've hired a driver for 6 hours tomorrow to see some of the area, and bought a map to figure out where to go. I'm doing that instead of diving - I talked with a dive instructor today, and he said the wind from last couple of days was making all diving off east coast "muck diving".

Saturday night at 7pm I make a final presentation about the project I've done, then go to dinner with the group, and get on a flight at midnight (if I clear the waitlist).

Wednesday Night at the Meriden

I made it to Dammam today - 7am flight - and went to construction company to interview the managers about setting up an internal audit department.

Before I left Riyadh I recived the Saudi Diamonds from the Jewellery Shop. Look nice!

I'll work here Thursday, and make my return travel plans. As yet I have not found a way to get from Dammam to Abu Dhabi very efficiently so will visit a travel agent tomorrow. I'm hoping to dive here Friday and leave for the US on Saturday.

Tuesday at the Sheraton

This looks like my last day in Riyadh for a while. Tomorrow I will go to Eastern Province, the city of Damman (near Saudi Aramco HQ), for some interviews on an internal auditing project. Then it's back to TRH over the weekend - the real weekend, Saturday and Sunday!

Still no delivery of Saudi Diamonds from Jewellery Shop No. 79. They say this afternoon the stuff will be delivered. Hope so.

Monday afternoon in the car

Riyadh temperature

50c = 130F. What else can I say???

Saturday Afternoon at Starbucks

Went to a GM dealer this morning. They are starting a Quality Circle to implement internal controls and want my help. Then I toured their show room and shop and told them I have a Rover and a Toyota! We'll see if they still want my help!

I may go to Dammam on East Coast for some interviews. If so, I'll go to Bahrain for weekend I think.

Tell the Shelties I remember them!

Friday Night at the Sheraton

I've gone native. I wearing a gown in the hotel room now. I know they have a special name for it, but it looks like a gown to me. Benjamin - you have one too - it will just fit into a suitcase to Benin!

And there was a place called Ba'Ateyah Jewellery, or Shop No. 79, in the souk. They are making a pendant for a necklace - it's what they call a Saudi Diamond. It's a clear, rounded stone found in the desert, I'm told. Or, it may just be clear glass imported from Japan. I will make its way to TRH, if it gets delivered to the hotel Tuesday as planned. Also bought a really old stone grinder and a cowbell - very TRH-looking stuff. I bargained for them last April but didn't buy; this time I did.

Friday Morning at The Sheraton

Walked down the street to a shopping mall and electronics store last night - at least this hotel is nearer to normal shopping stores than the Four Seasons. Found another Starbucks - they are everywhere.

Still hot here - 110 degrees from around noon to 3pm. Tonight I'm going to the old souk, or antique market, with someone from April's seminar. Maybe I'll buy some stuff to bring to TRH.

Thursday - First Day of the Weekend

It's still hard to think of Thursday and Friday as the weekend over here. June 16 - 31 years ago today I got married - doesn't that make me feel old?

So in the world there's all the stuff going on - disasters, terrorists, UN scandal, elections -- and what's in the newspaper here? Michael Jackson's court verdict. Really depressing. One editorial, criticizing the reporters, says "Jackson does not represent what is typical of the Western world - indeed, he hardly represents humanity as we know it." See, they really are regular people over here!

I'm at the Sheraton now. Half the price - but not as nice as the Four Seasons either. No kids running around the attached mall because there is not attached mall!

Wednesday - Last Night at the Four Seasons

Public school just finished today, and the freed students are running all over the mall connected to the hotel - it's a madhouse! Also, my seminars are over so I'm moving to a Sheraton that is more convenient and about half the cost.
I visited a company headquarters today, Saudi Arabia Basic Inductry Corp, SABIC. They are a leader in petrochemicals, and have the most modern and nicest headquarters I have ever seen, anywhere. It was really impressive. They now want me to meet with their training manager Monday to discuss doing an in-house training course for them.
Even though these seminars are over and the following ones in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi were cancelled, I'm going to stay here at least another week to work on two consulting jobs. The pay is the same, so I might as well do real work instead of seminars.
I got a little red at the pool today, but maybe it will turn to brown. Hope the Shelties had fun at Al's and did not eat too much.

Monday Morning @ Starbucks

0ne class down, one to go. Have at least two consulting projects likely from this seminar and booked another seminar in Abu Dhabi. Looks like Oct - Nov in the Gulf States.

Maybe a trip to Dubai can happen during all this. I count at least 5 more trips as being likely before end of year.

Sunday Afternoon @ Starbucks

Yea - BLOG Comments!

Saturday Night at Starbucks

OK - one more post. Had ostrich for dinner last night at the hotel. Today was 1st day of class -three more days to go. Then on Wednesday meet with four potential clients - lots of work over here!

Is anybody out there?

Friday Morning at Starbucks

I can now access replies and comments to my Blogs, both at HNC and the Starbucks in the lobby of the Four Seasons. Maybe I didn't say that earlier and that's why there have been no comments for several days.

But, no comments = no Blogs! I dont need to Blog for me.

Thursday Morning at the HNC Offices

First day of the weekend here, and I'm at the HNC offices doing final preparations for the seminars that start Saturday.

Yesterday I ate my first Saudi Arabian Mexican Food - Fajitas. No chips come with Mexican food here - but was pretty much Tex-Mex other than that. No beer or margaritas either.

Saudi won a soccer game last night and qualified for the World Cub matches next year, so the streets were full of people celebrating until very late. It was all over the headlines today.

I went to a shopping mall across the street from the hotel - the whole mall is nothing but colorful, formal, fancy clothing for women - over 100 shops right next to each other. Lots of women shopping, all dressed in their traditional black robes. I still wonder who wears the stuff in the shops, and when? All the shop workers were men.

I'll stay here at the offices for a while, then will spend some more time today and tomorrow working on a proposal for Saudi Telecom Company. They want help with a voluntary Sarbanes-Oxley compliance effort. I think that could provide periodic Saudi trips for the next year. SOX are everywhere - a true accountants' full employment act.

I may also go to the gym and pool - and see if the 100+ degree weather makes the pool water warm enough for me to get into!

Tuesday Evening at HNC Offices

Went to Saudi Electric Co today for three hours to talk about the seminars, and to follow-up with some people about the April sessions. They have 60+ auditors and want basic audit training - in Arabic!!

In HNC Office I can read Blog comments, get to Yahoo, but not download Outlook mail. At Four Seasons, I can do just the opposite. Go figure!

They work a split shift here - 8:30-12:30 then 4:30 until around 9pm. Take middle of the day off to be with family for lunch period.

Hot here - but Weatherbug tells me it's mid-90's at TRH, so that's pretty hot also!!!

Internet Access in Saudi

Internet access here is pretty wierd. In the Four Seasons, I can download my email to Outlook, but I cannot view Yahoo.com, where I normally handle my mail when on the road.

I can get to blogsppt.com to post a new message, like this one, but I cannot view the blog itself - so unless I find another way to do it, I cannot see anything anyone else posts to the blog.

I think the websites must have blocked access from certain parts of the world, rather than it being censorship on this end. Last time I could download Quicken financial data to my PC, but not logon to banking or credit card or travel sites. We'll see if that is the same now, or if it changes when I get to the HNC offices and try to logon there.

For now though, posting comments to my blog will let others see the comments, and maybe someday I'll be able to see them too!

Tuesday Morning at the Four Seasons

I arrived Riyadh around 6pm Monday, as scheduled. No problems at all with flights. A mere 108 degrees F, in the shade, here when I arrived. But, there really is no shade, just inside or in the sun, so it was just hot.

They stopped serving liquor on the plane about half way between Paris and Riyadh - to observe Saudi customs all liquor was sealed in locked containers!

I'm looking out a different side of the Four Seasons this trip - they have taken out a whole four block section of town next to the hotel. Building something big, I suppose.

I'm going over to the HNC offices today and visiting Saudi Telecom Corp on Wednesday. Then, it's the weekend - Thursday and Friday. Class begins Saturday and goes thru Tuesday. Hopefully we'll come up with some work at STC to fill the time after that, since the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi sessions BOTH cancelled at the last minute.

Sunday afternoon in the Air France lounge

If all goes well I should be in Paris by morning and Riyadh by Monday evening. That's 18 hours of flying and 7 or 8 hours of time change . Will see if I can blog my way thru this trip!

Monday Afternoon, at TRH

I made it home on schedule, around 3pm at TRH. I'll water plants, grab the mail and some new clothes, and head for Richmond around 7pm. I hope the traffic is OK by then.

I also washed off the Rover, and it's ready to go. It's gonna be strange to drive after three weeks of not driving.

Early Monday in the BA Lounge

I made it out of Saudi and Bahrain, leaving at 1:30 last night. Now, it's 8:30am and I am in London. Showered in the BA lounge at Heathrow, so now it's just another day in another airport. I'll leave here around 11am, and get to Dulles around 2pm. Then it's to TRH and to Richmond.

I'm wondering if anyone is reading these Blogs, or if I'm just keeping a secret diary.

Sunday, Last day in the Compound

Today I work all day then get on a plane in Bahrain and fly to the rain -- I made a rhyme!!! But maybe it stopped raining at TRH by now. Hope there are some spring flowers left for me to take pictures of.

I'll be returning to an emply house, Deborah in AZ and the puppies with Lucile. Oh well, I'll only be there an hour or so before driving to Richmond. Finally home again late Wednesday night.

Friday at the Compound

Just a day of work today, getting ready for a management presentation after class tomorrow.

Bought a newspaper today, Gulf News "Most Widely Read English Paper in the Middle East". A page was missing, so I went back to the store to get another one -- that page had been torn out of all the newspapers there. Guess there was something I was not supposed to see!!!

Two more days of training, then its to the Bahrain airport to fly all night Sunday, taxi to TRH Monday afternoon to pickup the Rover, then drive to Richmond to teach Tuesday and Wednesday. Hope I can sleep on the airplane!!!

Thursday Morning at the Compound

This is first day of the weekend and I am off to Bahrain for the day. Going with a guy who takes his wife there for hair stylist. Bahrain is another country, about an hour away, via car and about a thousand miles away culture-wise. There people were normal clothes and they serve beer and wine. Maybe they have some clustered pearl earrings - whatever those may be.

I finally got my PC attached to the internet here - and can access some additional travel and banking websites. But can't download mail into Outlook so still have to use Yahoo webmail. Took three weeks to find a guy who knew the correct 8 letter proxy server name. That's all it needed.

Tomorrow I am going with their ERM manager to look at electronics shops in the town just outside the compound.

BD at the Compound

Seafood buffet last night at the Meredian Hotel in town, outside the compound. Really nice hotel. I went with two auditors from here. One is in charge of ERM implementation and needs help and advice. I also setup a two hour briefing Saturday with the senior managers in finance and the VP Finance regarding COSO, to tell them what I've been telling their staff. Those are also the ERM decision makers.

I may make it to Bahrain tomorrow, Thursday (which is like Saturday in the US). We'll see if they have pearls.

I bet the basement plant needs a cup of water, and so do the others upstairs and down. The bulbs too, and they'd like to be outside, I bet.

Monday Evening in the Compound

I'm back at the compound!!! Good to be out of all that class of the Four Seasons and back to this down-to-earth sand and dirt!

Have a two-day session tomorrow with audit here, then weekend then one final two day session. Also, have a firm request to consult with them on a per day basis to choose an ERM provider and to provide 1/2 day senior management briefing on COSO and ERM. Also have a RFQ for ERM work with Telecom company in Riyadh. More work here than any one person can do - so better price my time on the high side!!!

Sunday Afternoon at the Four Seasons

Finished now with another COSO seminar. That's 3 down and 2 to go. They announced to the class another series of training sessions here June 11-15, so if that goes as planned, I'll be here again then.

A local economic magazine interviewed me after class, and I have another interview with a local newspaper tomorrow morning. Both interviews complete with cameramen. Wow - whoever thought auditors were such big celebrities!!!!

Dinner tonight with the partners of the consulting firm sponsoring the Riyadh seminar. I said I was looking forward to some belly dancing and beer drinking -- they said only camels belly dance here, and no one drinks beer!

Saturday Evening at the Four Seasons

First day of this two day class. Lots of bankers and telecom companies. About 26 people.

Got busted in the gym after class. Walked from lockers to showers without a towel around me and was told that was not allowed. Must be wrapped in towel or robe, even though all men in gym!

Booked to go back to Compound Monday at 2:30. Should be back in confinement by 5pm Monday. Teaching Tue - Wed, and maybe go to Bahrain for Ths or Friday. No pearls here in Riyadh.

Friday noon at the Four Seasons

Had buffet breakfast and then went to spa this morning. Sat by pool in the hot sun for an hour - maybe I'll have to do that again! Going on a tour at 4pm to see old souk and other things. I was told I could see everything in a couple of hours, and that I can take pictures.

Friday is like Sunday in the States. Except here everything is closed. I don't even know if the souk will be open tonight. We'll see.

The spa/gym is great. About 50 modern workout machines, plus weights. Pool was nice and private from rest of hotel - but water way too cold, for me. Massage, etc available, but I only rode bike and sat in sun and listened to my audio tapes.

Don't know where women go to workout or spa -- because the whole Four Season Spa/Gym is for men only! Men's dressing room opens directly onto the workout room, and men have to parade from lockers to showers by walking past the open walkway to the workout area!!!

Maybe they could bring you a skip rope to use in the hotel room, as long as you stayed away from the open windows where someone might see you!

Thursday Night at the Four Seasons

This is a really pretty city. There are two tall buildings, one of which the hotel is in. The other is 1/2 mile away and shaped like a globe. This one is an arch -- about 100 floors high.

I do have some pictures of this arch, but only after drawing a crowd of 4 security guards when I went outside to take pictures of it this morning. Doesn't seem to be allowed. I went up in the arch this evening, but could not take the camera -- although many of the people visiting the arch had cameras in their phone and used them. Go figure -- just not allowed to take good pictures from the arch I suppose. But, guess what my camera phone has on it now???

Also visited the old city today, reminded me of the wall around Istanbul - except this one made of mud and stone and only a couple of hundred years old. Lots of pictures there.

Went to lunch in a traditional restaurant with two from the consulting firm sponsoring the training. Had camel to eat -- really. It was broiled and tasted like beef. Other than that, lots of lamb, humicie, chicken, etc. Not really too spicy or out of the ordinary.

Had a hamburger from McDonalds for breakfast --- no breakfast menus here, but they are planning to have that soon.

Got caught in prayer time in the mall again - all stores closed for 30 minutes around sundown -- 6 pm. Last night's closing was around 8pm - so I wonder if they'll close again tonight?

Snowed here this morning




------ April Fools!!!!!

Wednesday Night at the Four Seasons

What a change!! Company compound in the morning and luxury in the afternoon! Riyadh is very modern, skyscrapers, malls, new cars, etc.

The armed guards at the entry way to the hotel checked the trunk and the hood of the car - really tight security.

It will be really interesting to see a bit of the city tomorrow. But, also have two client visits tomorrow setup by the consulting firm that arranged this training.

There might be lots more work over here.

Wednesday noon - leavin' the compound for a while!

Finished with the SOX team now. They say they'll want me back to consult with them periodically as they go through this and through ERM. We'll see.

Met one guy I'd worked with in EY way back in Dallas, and another I'd worked with at Mobil Audit in Dallas. Small world.

Hope the basement flood is not too bad. Can you get Hydro to clean it up? Tell him it's food.

Catching a bus in an hour to the Aramco hanger, to fly on the company plane. Several people told me this morning the Four Seasons in Riyadh might not be exactly like Four Seasons else where - so I'm prepared to be underwhelmed. But, they did say it is much better than the guest quarters here.

Tuesday Night in the Compound

Last night here for a while. Leaving tomorrow afternoon for Riyadh on the company airplane. Wonder if the Four Seasons will look like my home here? I wanted to post a picture, but just found out it is hard to do. Oh well.

Met Buddy the Sheltie this morning on way to office. He is a little bigger than Hydro, with shorter hair, and is more controlled than either of TRH Shelties. I petted him and he said hello.

Caught a compound bus and rode one circuit of the compound this afternoon - took about 35 minutes. I'll show you the pictures so you can be envious of the homes here.

This was the first nice weather we've had. Low 80's and clear this afternoon.

I'm meeting with the SOX 404 project team from 7:30 to noon tomorrow, then catching taxi to airport for the short flight to Riyadh. I think I could get a job here if you want - maybe they need a GCS partner, now, in the EY office here?

Monday night in the Compound

Boorriinngg here! Sleep, work, eat.

Dinner at Dining Hall again - fruit was only thing that looked good. Looking forward to the Four Seasons in a couple of days. Maybe I can get internet access for my PC there.

I think I will spend a night in Bahrain around April 7, maybe I'll get shopping and picture taking in.

You can comment on these posts you know, that way I'd know you are there. Just remember that anyone can see them, and I am sure thousands of people are hanging on my every word!

Sunday in the Compound

Dinner tonight at the Dining Hall - ummmmmm - Rice and Fish, I think.

Finished first seminar today, start another one tomorrow. They also signed up for another one April 5-6 - so that's 4 two day sessions here on the Compound, and one two day session in Riyadh. I'll get used to the Compound by then. Still waiting on a PC connection on anything but a public PC but they are not too fast here!!

I'm flying to Riyadh on company plane Wednesday afternoon, then at Four Seasons Wed - Sunday nights, teaching there Sat-Sun, then back to here Monday April 4.

Happy Easter - I'm looking for easter eggs on my morning and night walk from the Compound to the Administration offices.

BTW, the "clinic" here on the Compound has 500 full-time doctors employed. Some clinic.

Saturday Night at the Compound

First day of teaching COSO today. The class was 80% Saudi and 20% expat - everyone was actually very good and interested. Dinner tonight at seafood restaurant, OFF COMPOUND, with two training managers.

Tomorrow is another full day of teaching 7:30am to 3:30pm. They are doing COSO because they are voluntarily complying with SOX 404.

It's about 60degrees here - and I thought it would be hot! Not so - so much for scuba diving I think! But, there is a golf course!!!

Meanwhile, I am still a walking Tumi commerical - bag, briefcase and jacket - I look like a catalog.

At the Transient Guest Quarters ..

Well, I made it. Got to Bahrain around noon, then arrived at the Saudi Guest Quarters in Dharan around 4pm. Yep, that's right - it's called Steineke Hall, next door to the Dining Hall and right around the corner from the Commissary. Yes, Deborah, you are glad you stayed at TRH!

Only limited internet access now, but someone's supposed to show me how to install a TUT in my room, so I'll have access there. I just can't wait to be Tutted.....

Kuwait - In the Oasis Lounge

If it's Friday morning, I must be in Kuwait. 7:15 am Friday morning to be exact -- but from here it just looks like another big airport. Three hours here, then on a Gulf Air flight to Bahrain, finally. I'm going to see if I can look out some windows now, so I can say I've been to Kuwait.

At Heathrow Hilton

It's Thursday, but I didn't make it to Bahrain. Weather delayed the JFK flight and I missed the connection in London - by about 10 minutes. BA said they wait for no one - even someone like me who's driven 4.5 hours through snow to get to JFK for the flight!

Now I'm in a day room at the Hilton at Heathrow airport, and will leave tonight at 10pm, arriving in Kuwait at 6:40am Friday morning. Another overnight on an airplane! Then I catch a Gulf Air flight at 10am and arrive Bahrain at 11am Friday --- I hope.

Oh, well. At least after this I can say I've been to Kuwait!

Albany to JFK to London to Bahrain

Today is a big trip - driving from Albany to JFK airport (possibly in rain and snow), catching an overnight BA flight to London, then on to Bahrain. I should get there around 7:30pm Thursday evening, Bahrain time if all goes well. That's +8 hours from TRH time.